By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
Ratiopharm Ulm became the first team to beat EuroCup reigning champ Gran Canaria not only this season, but also in 10 months. The German side took a 103 – 99 overtime win over their opponents at home to climb to 8 – 3 in Group B.
Gran Canaria lost for the first time after February 18 – when they had been defeated at Hapoel Tel Aviv – and 18 straight EuroCup matches. Despite the result, the remain atop of Group B.
LJ Figueroa led Ulm in scoring with 19 points while Juan Nunez starred by delivering 17 points, six assists and four rebounds. He scored a key basket to make it 93 – 86 in overtime and then hit three free throws to put his team up 101 – 93 with 57 seconds to play. Gran Canaria tried to erase that deficit but didn’t get at a shooting distance.
Nicolas Brussino had 13 points for Gran Canaria and Ferran Bassas posted 12 points plus 10 assists. Brussino also drained the triple that tied the score at 86 with seven seconds remaining in regulation after Ulm players didn’t foul when up by three. The hosts began the extra period with seven unanswered points to get a key advantage ahead of their big win.
Paris Basketball delivered another offensive show, this time crushing Reyer Venezia 100 – 70 to remain the team to beat in Group A, now at 10 -1. Five players scored in double figures for the winning side with Nadir Hifi (18 points, five assists) and Tyson Ward (17 points, five rebounds) leading the charge.
Jordan Parks had 16 points plus six rebounds for Venezia that dropped to 4-7.
Harrel Roane scored 18 points and registered five steals while Vassilis Toliopoulos dropped 16 points as Aris Thessaloniki put on their trademark strong defense at work to defeat Lietkabelis 69 – 60. The Greek squad moved to 4-7, the same record as their opponents.
From Lietkabelis, Deividas Sirvydis stood out with 16 points and six rebounds.
2023-24 EuroCup Round 11 Tuesday (12/12) Results:
Cluj Napoca – Slask Wroclaw 80 – 76
Wolves Vilnius – Hapoel Tel Aviv 81 – 89
Aris Thessaloniki – Lietkabelis 69 – 60
Ratiopharm Ulm – Gran Canaria 103 – 99
Paris Basketball – Reyer Venezia 100 – 70
Photo: EuroCup Basketball